The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1887-02-05

1hN so VIVA 40 khAS NoulA kCtuIA " lily
homs in north Georgia they told my wife
hat they had secn me killed In q skirmish
shot through the head, they said.n
'fte made q big mistai,e," l interrupt.
ed. GN
"a bad onc,'' was the reply. "Well, l
lay with my head halfway in the creek
until the cold water revived me. I found
chat l was uniDjured, but what was l to
do? My horse wac conc. l was in the
enemy's country, and l did not know the
route back 10 my command. I wandered
Oh for days and nights, and at last found
myself 60 far inside Of the Federal lines
that I gave up all hops Of getting out"
$50 you remained?" I asked.
Yes; l was a pretty. good carpenter,
and there was plenty Of work to be done
in the mountain towns OF Tennessee and
Kentucky. Money always had q great at
traction for me, and s. a day in green.
backs was a temptation. So I went to
work snd drifted from one town to an.
other, living economically and saving my
money. Every night ! would count over
my earnings and think Of the blessed
time when I would return home and
make my wife and little boy and girl com.
Portable. I used to dream about it, I
knew they would be glad TO zee me-"
Baxter paused and Grew q long sigh. l
said nothing, and waited.
"The war ended at last" said my com.
oanion. II waited a month or two until
I finished my contracts. Then, I beltel
my money around me and started for
homo with the lightest heart in the
world"
Again be stopped, and it seemed diff.
cult Tor him 10 go on, and when he spoke
sgain it WIS with o tremor in his voice.
II got home at last, and just before
reaching the village I met an old friend
IN the train who turned as white 90 a
sheet when I spoke to him. I slapped
5im on tho back, but he was in a state Of
such nervous excitement that I could get
aothiDg out Of him. Finally the whole
miserable business came out. My wife,
believing me dead, had yielded after
six months to tho pressure of an old lover,
~ Henry Black, and had married
0im. My friend tried 10 console me.
Ho spoke UP, too, for my vile, and argued
that abe was not 10 blame. Do you think
this had any weight with me? IfeIt likes
mailman. At last l promised to do moth.
ing rash, and for tho remainder OF the
rip I just gritted my teeth and waited.
When the train landed me in our little
depot the outgoing train was about ready
TO leave and the passengers were on their
way to 1t. Arm in arm and chatting mer-
filyI saw Henry Black and his new wife
my wife-do you understand? l knew
how fragile and nervous she was, and how
q shock would effect her, but what cared
| for that? Stepping in front.of tho cou.
pie, I raised my old sloushnd hat, and,
1i'h a smile, said:
"t.Do I look like a dead mar p"
'Blsck fell back a step, and my vile,
with one wild scream, sank into his arms.
Then ! walked OF to the hotel and shut
myself up in a room. That nigh. l was
sent for. Old. frienda came and begged
me to 20 to my wiis's bedside. She had
said that she could not die without my
forgiveness. l merely replied that she
would bear from mo the next morning."
"And you went!" I exclaimed.
"No, by G-dl l sent my lawyer with a
demand Tor the custody Of my children,
and for tho delivery OF every article Of par.
sonal property in the house that I could
legally claim. I also sent q notice for
Henry Black and his vile to vacate my
house instantly"
You were cruel" I said. "lbat was
unjustifable."
"Neyer mind. I did it. You may
guess the result. When my wife heard Of
my action she turned her face to tho wall
and died without saying q word. I got the
children before tho funeral. My property
was turned over to me, and Henry Black,
in tue courso Of q few days. left town."
sand was that the end OF iii"
"iour question:" said Baxter, 'ehows
that you do not know me. No, Sir; I
kept an eye on Black. l prospered in
business beyond my expectations, and
every dollar that I could spare l invested
where it would hurt Black. I interferred
with his trades, had him turned out OF
situations and checked him at every turn.
Ten years Of that sort Of work finished
him. When o man hates another and
devotes himFelfto his ruin, ho can accom-
plish wonders in ten years. Hate is a
power"
"But love Is greater" said 1. D
II don't know. l know what hate can
do. When Black was thoroughly wound
up, ruined, disappointed and broken
hearted he cut his throat. Then l
moved here, and I have never opened
my mouth to a living soul but you."
sand what induced you to tell me all
this :" I asked.
II can not tell. That talk about Enoch
Arden's idiotic folly, Isuppose."
'Nfr. Baxter"
"Well, colonelW
"After sll these years of calm reflection,
do you etill think in your heart of hearts
that your course was right. Have you no
regrets? Would you not suffer anything
Just for the privilege OF having that poor
woman back for one moment, so that you
could take her hands in yours and press
your lips to hers, and tell her that you
forgive her" IN
ION, my God!' came in a Departing
cry from tho wretched man. II do not
know. Stop Not one word. II you are
disposed to Judge harahly, remember that
you see before you q man who buffers
daily aud hourly the fortunes Of hell. I
do not know whether / was right or
wrong;1 only know that I suferln
He turned and walked rapidly toward
the village. I watched his Yetreating
figure until it was ont Of sight, and then
went home.
ne Will meyer boast again that he is
not an Enoch Arden" ! said to myself.
And he never did. Although I saw him
many times afterward, he always shun.
ned me, and gave only the coolest sigu Of
recognition.